Donric Group
| Parent | Don McKenzie & Richard Baird |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 1980 |
| Headquarters | Sunbury |
| Service area |
Victoria Queensland |
| Service type | Bus & coach operator |
| Depots |
Atherton Ayr Bacchus Marsh Ballarat Cairns Gisborne Ingham Innisfail Kyneton Melton Mirani Ravenshoe Romsey Sunbury Werribee |
| Fleet | 333 (May 2013) |
| Website | www.donric.com.au |
The Donric Group is an Australian owner of bus and coach companies in Victoria and Queensland.
History
The origins of the Donric Group can be traced to March 1980 when Don McKenzie and Richard Baird purchased eight school buses from WJ Treweek in Sunbury.[1] This fleet has now grown to over 340 vehicles and 450 staff across 6 companies.
In 1989 Coach Tours of Australia was established as a coach charter company.[2] In March 1989 Sweet's, Bacchus Marsh was purchased and renamed Bacchus Marsh Coaches.[3]
In 1994 Swanlink Coachlines, Swan Hill was acquired with two V/Line contracts.[4] It was sold in November 2007 to the Pickering Group, owners of Swan Hill Coaches.[5]
In 2000 Thege Coach Charter, Ballarat was purchased and renamed Gold Bus Ballarat.[6] In 2001 Begonia City Coaches, Ballarat was acquired and incorporated into Gold Bus Ballarat. In October 2007 Organ's Bus Service, Kyneton was purchased.[7]
In June 2010, Trans North Bus & Coach in North Queensland was purchased. In July 2010, Coopers Bus Service of Mirani and G&JE O'Neill of Finch Hatten were purchased, followed in October 2010 by Hasties Bus Service of Innisfail, and in January 2011 Henderson's of Ayr. All have been brought under the Trans North Bus & Coach branding.[8]
Companies
Companies which have been acquired by the Donric Group include:
- Sweet's, Bacchus Marsh
- Begonia City Coaches, Ballarat
- Thege Coach Charter, Ballarat
- Organ's Bus Service, Kyneton
- Sovereign City Coaches, Ballarat
- Tantau, Ballarat
- Jones, Ballarat
- Trans North Bus & Coach, Ingham
- Cooper's Bus Service, Mirani
- O'Neill, Finch Hatten
- Hasties Bus Service, Innisfail
- Hendo's Bus Service, Ayr
Companies currently operated by the Donric Group include:
- Sunbury Bus Service
- Coach Tours of Australia
- Bacchus Marsh Coaches
- Gold Bus Ballarat
- Organ's Coaches Kyneton
- Trans North Bus & Coach
Depots
- Sunbury Bus Service: Romsey, Sunbury, Riddells Creek, Gisborne
- Bacchus Marsh Coaches: Bacchus Marsh, Melton, Werribee
- Gold Bus Ballarat: Ballarat
- Organ's Bus Service, Gisborne, Kyneton, Romsey
- Trans North Bus & Coach: Atherton, Ayr, Cairns, Ingham, Innisfail, Mirani, Ravenshoe
Fleet
As at May 2013 the Donric Group operated 333 buses and coaches.[8][9]
See also
- Buses in Melbourne
- List of Victorian Bus Companies
- List of Queensland Bus Companies
- List of Melbourne bus routes
References
- ↑ Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Melbourne: Bus & Coach Society of Victoria. 1991. p. 63.
- ↑ About Us Coach Tours of Australia
- ↑ "Sweet" Australian Bus Panorama 5/1 July 1989 page 40
- ↑ "Swanlink Coaches" Australian Bus Panorama 10/9 July 1995 page 40
- ↑ Swanlink Coachlines Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- ↑ "Gold Charter Coaches" Australian Bus Panorama 16/4 February 2001 page 53
- ↑ Organ's Bus Service Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- 1 2 Trans North Bus & Coach Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- ↑ Donric Group Australian Bus Fleet Lists